Readings for the Day:
Sermon:
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Original Manuscript:
Henry Longfellow's poem "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere", which has been expanded and retold over the years, gives the amazing story of Paul Revere, midnight rider coming into town to warn the American people that "the British are coming". This allowed the early Americans to be prepared and armed for the British soldiers descending upon them at the start of the Revolutionary War. His work is what helped give our great country a chance when she was barely a fledgling nation.
Except that Paul Revere wasn't alone. He had a lot of help getting to where he needed to go. In fact, he was not even the only rider going around to prepare the colonists for the British invading them.
We often like to condense who deserves the credit to one person, but that goes against what are country is really about. Thomas Jefferson didn't write the Declaration of Independence alone, he was given the task by the Continental Congress, who did so on the suggestion of John Adams, who along with Benjamin Franklin helped edit the document. Yes, John Hancock wrote the Constitution, but only after extended voting and discussion by representatives from all the original American colonies. The Federalist Papers, that great commentary on the need for the Constitution, had Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay behind it as authors. Even George Washington's presidency relied not just on Washington, but on the intellect of his advisors who were of opposite persuasions.
As a democracy, we are not a nation built up by one or two, we are a nation that requires the work of many. The same is true for our faith.
It's easy to look at our readings today, especially the Old Testament and the Gospel, and feel that our faith requires those few holy men called by God to be the messenger, "the voice crying in the wilderness, 'prepare he the way of the Lord.'" It's easy to think we need the one or the few to do the work of God in the world.
It's easy to think that we simply bear Paul's name, but that we can never measure up to his great work in the world. In fact, we can, and Paul himself calls us to do so.
Paul starts Philippians by telling the church that he is thankful for their role in "sharing the Gospel." Paul does not do his ministry alone. He needs the Philippians and others to help him to do his work. He needs their help to do God's work.
His hope is exactly what we spoke of last week: that his people will be prepared. His hope specifically is that they will be prepared for Christ Jesus' coming by having produced a harvest. Namely, his hope is that they will continue to not only share in the Gospel, but share in making that Gospel known.
His hope is really that they too will be that "voice crying in the wilderness, 'prepare ye the way of the Lord!'"
The work of the church is not of the few; it is of the many, and that is a good thing. If only a few are doing the work, it will be difficult, and it will flounder. But if many take part, then it will flourish.
As we prepare for Christmas during this season of Advent, we are called not only to prepare a place for Christ Jesus in our own hearts, but we are called to do so in the hearts of those around us as well. My hope too is that we can continue to share the love of Jesus during all times of the year. My hope is that the hope that John was proclaiming, the hope the Israelites were looking for, and the hope we seek during this time of year, will be one we can carry and proclaim at all times in our lives.